Chapter 13
Seth
“Harrison, please watch your brother and sister for a moment. I’m going next door to invite our neighbor to the park with us.”
“Okay,” he says, not looking up from playing Minecraft. Sawyer is playing with him, while Emily is pushing around some cars on the floor next to her brothers so they should be fine for a few minutes.
I slip on a pair of shoes by the front door and head over to Calvin’s place.
We’ve texted back and forth for the past week, and he seems to be doing okay.
No freakouts since that first time he came knocking on my door.
That tells me he’ll be fine with Braeden.
I also told him about the social worker’s visit.
I explained to her that I didn’t know Calvin well, but he always seemed to be a good person.
I left out the part about Calvin building totems out of toys at the crack of dawn, in his underwear. That wouldn’t go over well.
I knock on his door, and he’s quick to answer it.
As soon as the door opens, I’m surrounded by his scent.
It’s spicy with a hint of amber. It’s bold like him.
His hair is still wet, and it’s tousled.
I always hate how good he looks, wearing a simple white T-shirt that fits snugly across his broad, muscular chest, paired with jeans with strategically placed rips.
What is it about a man dressed so casually and barefoot?
He has no right to be that hot, and I shouldn’t be looking at him that way in the first place.
As soon as he sees me, he steps outside and comes at me with purpose, a gleam in his eye, and his trademark smirk, which probably gets most men all hot and bothered.
Calvin crowds into my personal space, hovering over me.
“Back, you beast. Don’t you know about personal boundaries?”
“Nope. What are those?”
I roll my eyes so hard that it pulls a laugh from him.
Meanwhile, I’m trying not to smile back and physically respond to his presence or his smell.
“You’re impossible. Glad to see you’re feeling better.
And here I am trying to be nice and invite you and Braeden to Carousel Gardens.
” I turn my back on him and fold my arms. “I mean, if you don’t want to go, then… ”
Calvin spins me around, and right when I think he’s going to reach for me in some way that goes beyond friendship, he drops his hands and takes a step back. “Carousel Gardens, you say? Well, how can I say no to that? Let me make sure Braeden is up for it.”
I follow him into the house, which smells like him, mingled with coffee from earlier this morning.
Something rubs against my ankles, and I nearly jump out of my skin. I look down to find a black-and-white kitten, of all things.
“Well, hello there.” The cat screams at me and starts weaving around my ankles. “Uhm…”
Calvin squats, picks up the kitten, and plops him onto his shoulder.
I’m honestly shocked the cat just sits there.
“This bottomless garbage disposal is Cicero. You’d be surprised by how much Braeden knows about the Roman Empire, or its history for that matter.
When we went to grab this goat in the shape of a cat, he picked out the name.
Since Cicero never stops talking and begging for food, Braeden named him after the great orator, scholar, and politician. ”
I pet the cat’s head, now noticing the black heart on the tip of its nose. It closes its eyes and purrs, sounding like a lawnmower. “Getting soft, are we?”
“Pfft, never. I’m a Brillo pad. Braeden needs an emotional support pet. I have no idea if this cat will do anything other than eat me out of house and home, but the boy likes him.”
“Please, you seem quite taken with the kitty. I stand by my assessment that you’re a big ol’ softy.”
“Fine, he’s kind of cute. The litter box, not so much. I should’ve called him Caligula.”
I snort a laugh and shake my head. “This baby is precious. I’ve been thinking about getting my kids a pet.”
“Get a fish.”
“You don’t fool me, Calvin Abernathy. Look at you being a dad.”
“Not another word.” He sets the cat down, and it sits there, screaming at him again. He sighs and picks the creature up again. “Anyhooo… What about your boyfriend? Shouldn’t you ask him and his son to go to the park?”
“We’re not at the ‘meet-the-kids’ phase of our relationship yet.”
“How long does that phase last? Asking for a friend.”
I roll my eyes again as he turns around and heads toward the living room. “As long as I need it to. I don’t want my kids getting attached to someone, then have the guy up and leave.”
He turns to me when we reach the foot of the stairs and nods thoughtfully. “That makes sense.”
“Why? Are you planning on dating again?”
Calvin scoffs. “No.”
“That sounds definitive.”
“Cheating will do that.”
“That’s fair, I guess. But you’re going to be alone forever?”
He shrugs, unbothered by the prospect. I’m the complete opposite. It’s taken me a while to date again, but I don’t want to move through life without an intimate partner. Hopefully, Leo is the one. Only time will tell.
“I’m not alone at all anymore,” he says.
“You know what I mean.”
“I do. I don’t know, Tiger. Not sure I’m up for that sort of trauma again.” He looks up the stairs and calls for the boy. “Hey, Brae! Come on down, would you?”
Soon, Braeden slowly walks down the stairs. He looks better than the last time. His eyes are brighter, and his shoulders are straighter.
“Hey, Braeden,” I say with a smile and a wave.
He says nothing, but he gives me a small wave back.
“Mr.…” Calvin turns to me. “What’s your last name again?”
“Griffin.”
“Mr. Griffin here wants to take us to Carousel Gardens. I haven’t been there before, but I know it has rides and stuff.”
“Calling me Seth or Mr. Seth is fine. But Cal is right, there will be rides. Emily likes to go to Storyland, which is more age-appropriate for her. Then there are the botanical gardens, too.”
“Sounds good.”
Braeden plucks the cat from Calvin’s shoulder, hugs it, and brings it upstairs with him.
“Want some coffee or something?”
“I’m fine. I need to head back to my kids since I left them at home alone.”
“Oh, you naughty daddy.”
I pinch my nose, feigning exasperation to hide my need to laugh. “God, you did not just say that.”
“It’s a hill I’ll die on.”
“Jesus! Always the joker. Bye! See you in a few.”
I leave his house with his deep laugh filling my ears.
The day is perfect, except for the humidity. Still, it’s not too hot, and the sky is clear. There’s a gentle breeze that blows through the Spanish moss swaying in the live oaks, looking like tulle from a ballerina’s dress.
I’ve got Emily in her stroller since I can buckle her in and keep her from running off.
“You should have invested in a leash, I’m telling you,” Calvin snarks.
I give him a deadpanned look, making him grin like a fool. “I’m not going to acknowledge that with a response.”
“Just did. Gotcha.”
“Jesus, I regret inviting you already.”
“You love it.”
I huff a laugh and shake my head. I’ve known Calvin long enough to grow familiar with his brand of humor, dry with a hint of dad jokes. No, not a hint. It’s heavy with dry dad jokes. They’re pretty bad. So I’m not offended like I was before I got to know him. “You’re utterly ridiculous.”
Braeden is walking next to Calvin, practically clinging to him. It’s sad to see that Braeden needs so much reassurance, but I’m glad he’s got someone he can hang on to. I’m also happy that he’s out here with us.
“What should we do first? The carousel?” I ask the kids.
“Cawosel!” Emily yells. “Whion!”
“The lion it is.”
While Harrison isn’t as bold as Emily, my heart shatters into a million pieces in a good way when he takes Braeden’s arm and leads him toward the ride, and Braeden lets him with Sawyer close behind them.
“Ah, love to see a friendship blossom,” Calvin says.
“Definitely.”
“You’ve got a good kid there, Tiger. Although your little hellcat is questionable.”
“Thanks, Joker.”
He raises a brow and grins like a fool. I can’t see his eyes behind his sunglasses, but I’m sure they’re dancing with humor, too. “Joker, eh? Yeah, it kind of fits. I still like Tiger better.”
When we reach the carousel, I pull Emily out of her stroller and carry her to her favorite animal, the lion.
I put her on, hold her there, and hop on behind her.
To my surprise, Calvin rides on a horse next to me.
I honestly thought he’d sit this out. The other three boys are in front of us, all riding on their own horses, three rows up.
“You look adorable on a lion,” Calvin says. When he shoves his sunglasses over his head, he winks at me. He’s always doing that, but I hate it less now.
“If Emily doesn’t ride her lion, there will be h-e-l-l to pay.”
The ride slowly starts spinning, and the animals move up and down. Calvin already looks bored. Not surprising. Honestly, I look forward to the days when the kids are older and can go on wilder rides like roller coasters. Maybe then Calvin will have more fun.
“How are things going?” I ask him.
His eyes instantly glance over at Braeden. “It’s going okay, I think. He’s still having nightmares. His moods are circular. One minute, I can get him to smile, and the next, he’s crying again. I feel like I’m not helping at all.”
“Can I be frank?”
“Fire away, Frank.”
“God, you and your jokes. They’re terrible, Cal.”
He smiles crookedly at me. “Yeah, I concede. That one was pretty bad. Seriously, I prefer frankness.”
“I just want to say that you being there for Braeden does help. You’re an avowed bachelor who’s never wanted children…
I can see someone like that turning their back on a child like him.
It wouldn’t be the first time. Heck, look at my ex.
You’re going to be a steady rock in his life, and he’s going to need that. ”
Calvin grows serious and nods, gripping the pole tighter. “I know. His father came from the foster care system. He told me stories. Besides, I couldn’t do that to my friends. I owe them that much.”
Honestly, before I got to know my neighbor, I never even imagined he had any real empathy at all, but perhaps that’s my fault for assuming. I didn’t know him well. I still don’t, but we now seem to be on some middle ground, and we’re slowly becoming friends.
“Anyway, the hearing is coming up soon.”
“You ready?”
“I think so. God, I hope so. I’ve been busy getting him settled and going through the legal loopholes. It’s put me a bit behind in work with a massive project I need to stay on top of. Juggling a career and Braeden hasn’t been easy.”
Another thing I never expected from Calvin is his ease in answering anything I ask.
Malcolm used to drive me insane every time I asked him a serious question.
It was either met with another question or an indirect response.
Getting straight answers was like pulling teeth. Calvin has no such compunction.
I’m kind of liking these little surprises from my neighbor.
After the ride, we all climb off our animals and head toward the little roller coaster.
The line isn’t long, and as we wait, I try to put Emily back into her stroller, but she cries and fights me, pushing me and arching her back. I’m terrified I’m going to drop her. “No, Daddy! Wide! Wide!”
“I’m sorry, Peanut, but no roller coaster. You’re too small.”
Then the wailing begins. Here we go. It’s not only about the ride, but riding with her brothers.
Before I can bribe her with a treat, Calvin, to my shock, takes her from my arms, tosses her into the air, and catches her. He does it several more times, and while she’s suddenly in a fit of giggles. Meanwhile, I’m having a heart attack, imagining him not catching her and plummeting to her death.
“Again!” she yells as he puts her on his hip, much to my relief.
Calvin boops her nose. “Maybe later, raptor. Your dad’s looking a little green.”
I chuckle. “Am I that obvious?”
“You wear everything on your face, Tiger.”
The boys climb onto the ride while I’m debating whether to stay behind for Emily. As if reading my mind, Calvin says, “I’ve got her. Go with the kids.”
“You sure?”
“I think I can handle this little hellcat for a few minutes.”
“Whata hehcat?” she asks.
“That’s you, pumpkin. The terror of the high seas. The velociraptor of the swamps. Grr. Let’s hear your best growl.”
She shows him her claws and growls at him. I swear to god, my heart is melting right now. Dangit!
“Say bye, Daddy,” he tells her.
Emily gives me a big wave, now happy to be in Calvin’s big, strong arms.
Ugh, shut up, Seth.
This weird, growing attraction is starting to concern me. I have a perfectly good and attractive boyfriend. Can I call him a boyfriend after only three dates?
Right when the ride moves, Calvin grins like he’s up to something. He waves, and right when I pass him, he yells, “I’m going to fill her with a pound of sugar. We’ll be back!”
“Oh, heck no! Calvin! Don’t you dare!”
He walks away, laughing maniacally.
He’d better be joking.
Sawyer and I step off the ride fifteen minutes later. He’s not feeling so good, but the other two boys are riding again. It’s not the craziest ride, being made for little kids, but Sawyer has always been sensitive.
I find Calvin sitting on a park bench with Emily on his lap.
He’s handing her an animal cracker that I’d brought with us.
He looks like a natural with her. Maybe he’s resistant to children, but he falls into the role with little effort.
I wonder if he even realizes it. I melt a little more from watching them.
This isn’t good. No, this is bad.